Kyiv
October 14, 2019
I took the LSAT (law school admissions test) in Kyiv last Saturday which is why I've been so MIA. Basically the last week of life has been 24/7 studying and so nothing much has been happening here.
First point at issue: there is a large debate surrounding the proper spelling of Kiev/Kyiv.
'Kiev' is translated directly from the Russian word and, especially in this times like these, can be considered pro-Russian to spell it that way.
'Kyiv' is translated from the Ukrainian language and is the preferred spelling of those that support existing Ukrainian independence and autonomy.
The funny thing here is that I had to teach that to my own Ukrainian students yesterday. So average Ukrainians that don't know English probably don't really care how you spell it and would even tend to spell it "Kiev" since that is how it is commonly shown in media.
However, 'the Ukraine' is also commonly said and used even though Ukraine has been an autonomous, internationally recognized singular country since 1991. So, in support of people simply saying Ukraine, you will find most often find Kyiv as the spelling I use.
Two weeks ago I took a trip into the city and it was quite an adventure. The town I'm in here is small and very rural. To get into the city you take a small bus that seems a little sketchy, but is a pretty comfortable ride, and then you switch over to the metro to get to most places in the city. There isn't underground transportation in Utah, but trains are a pretty standard mode of transportation. The really cool thing here is that one of the stations, Arsenalna Metro Station, is the deepest station in the world. It's over 350 feet underground! I don't usually get claustrophobia but thinking about that number kind of freaks me out.
We started our day at a cute, very hipster cafe. The big cities in Ukraine are amazing for coffee.
Most places use their own fresh beans and Ukrainian cakes are my freaking happy place!
After the cafe we hit some major landmarks. I love the photos I've been able to take memorializing this trip.
St. Andrew's Church is one of the most beautiful I have seen, both here and in Greece. It's in Baroque style on the top of a hill and breathtaking. The sun began peeking through it at the perfect time. Some other key landmarks include the old town part of Kyiv that has vendors and basically an art gallery running for miles. The Arch of Friendship of Nations. An amazing and probably terrifying Ferris wheel. And a coffeehouse on wheels that is so quaint I can't get over it!